THIS IS THE SECOND WAVE CROWDFUNDER FOR THE YARCOMBE INN EAST DEVON COMMUNITY PROJECT. THE FIRST WAVE RAISED £13,522 TOWARDS OUR GOAL OF RAISING THE MONEY TO PURCHASE THE YARCOMBE INN AND OPEN IT AS A COMMUNITY HUB WITH PUB, CAFE, BISTRO, INTERNET CENTRE, SHOP, LOCAL PRODUCE MARKET, VISITOR/HERITAGE CENTRE, AND B&B.

WE ARE NOW WELL ON OUR WAY WITH THE PROJECT AND HAVE PLEDGES OF SUPPORT FROM NATIONAL GRANT GIVERS AND AGREED ACCESS TO LOW COST GOVERNMENT LOANS IN ADDITION TO DONATIONS MADE SO FAR THROUGH THE CROWDFUNDER.

THE CROWDFUNDER HOWEVER IS VERY IMPORTANT BECAUSE IT DEMONSTRATES SUPPORT FROM THE COMMUNITY AND THE WORLD AT LARGE FOR PRESERVING THE INN AND MAKING IT INTO SOMETHING SPECIAL. THE MORE WE RAISE THROUGH CROWDFUNDER THE EASIER IT WILL BE TO GET MATCH FUNDING AND THE MORE VIABLE THE PROJECT BECOMES. WE ASK FOR THE SUPPORT OF EVERYONE RESIDING IN YARCOMBE AND MARSH , ACROSS THE BLACKDOWN HILLS, EAST DEVON, SOUTH SOMERSET AND WEST DORSET AND EVERYONE ELSE WHO HAS PASSED THROUGH YARCOMBE AND HAS BEEN CHARMED WHILE RESTING AWHILE AT THE INN.

PLEASE GIVE, GENEROUSLY IF POSSIBLE, BUT IN ANY EVENT PLEASE SHOW YOUR SUPPORT BY GIVING ANYTHING YOU CAN.

WE PLAN TO SAVE THE YARCOMBE INN, A HISTORIC BUILDING, AND TRANFORM IT INTO A HUB FOR OUR COMMUNITY, THE BLACKDOWN HILLS AND BEYOND.

The Yarcombe Inn, a quintessential thatched country pub nestled in the Blackdown Hills of Devon, has had an uninterrupted history of welcoming visitors and locals for nearly a thousand years - until 2015.

When William of Normandy landed in 1066 the Yarcombe Inn was already a church house offering travellers a place to rest and eat on their pilgrimage to Glastonbury and onward to Canterbury. It has seen knights returning from the Crusades, Sir Frances Drake returning from the Armada, tired and weary soldiers of the first and second world wars. During all this time the Yarcombe Inn has stood sentinel, a silent observer to centuries of change.

In 2015 the pub was bought and has remained closed ever since.

NOW we have one moment in time to save this precious place for the future. PLEASE SUPPORT OUR CAMPAIGN.

Looking over Yarcombe and down to the Yarcombe Inn on a misty morning

RECENT EVENTSThe last working publicans moved away from Yarcombe in 2009 and leased the pub to the community whose 60 volunteers coming from near and far ran it successfully until 2014 when it closed its doors and was sold in 2015. An excited community believed that it was to reopen as a pub, restaurant and B&B. Sadly its doors remained closed. In 2015, with huge support from the community, the Parish Council successfully applied to make the pub an asset of community value (ACV) and an application by the owners to turn it into a residential building was refused. FIRST STEP ACHIEVED!

Now our beloved Yarcombe Inn is on the market and the community is pulling together to save this treasured hub of Blackdown Hills life and history once and for all - for today and the next 1,000 years.

The community’s right to bid has been implemented and our campaign begun!

Yarcombe Inn 3rd Anniversary Party of being run by the community

WHAT IS OUR VISION?This is not just a bid to save our local pub. It is about re-establishing our centre, building a new 21st Century community hub, including a range of services and facilities, not just for the village of Yarcombe but for the surrounding communities in the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.

This is your chance to be part of that vision, to preserve a great history and provide a place where people can continue to gather for generations to come.

PLEASE NOTE: Our share offer and business plan will be added to this site very soon. Please visit again or email savetheyarcombeinn@gmail.com to ensure you get the full information.

Some of our campaign team at the Yarcombe Terrier races

"Together we are committed to do this as our generation’s contribution to preserving this wonderful historic and socially important building and we do so hope you are with us." Nick Randle, Chair Yarcombe Parish Council.

Join our supporters who believe in our project and be part of an exciting new future for the Yarcombe Inn.

IN THE 17TH CENTURY THE YARCOMBE INN WAS CALLED THE ANGEL INN. PLEASE BE OUR ANGEL AND SUPPORT US.

WHAT COULD WE OFFER?Keeping the concept of a pub – ‘a public house’ at the heart of what we are doing we could also support:

Family friendly facilities where the young and old can meet during the day and into the eveningTea room and coffee shopReal ales at affordable pricesGreat locally sourced food Hi speed Wi Fi and internet accessLocal Shop ad Local Produce marketCafe and Bar/BistroParcel drop off and pick up pointB & BLocal arts and Crafts Gallery and shopBlackdown Hills visitors centreRegular music and open mic nights

3rd Year Anniversary of being a community run Inn

JUST IMAGINE

Supping your pint in the same place that Sir Francis Drake supped ale over 500 years agoEating in the room where 11th century monks welcomed pilgrims on their route to GlastonburyListening to the best of local music in warm friendly surroundings.Meeting your friends over coffee and a bacon butty on a misty winter’s morning while your toddlers play in a safe areaStopping off for a cup of coffee or a Devon cream tea and finding out about all the great places to visit in Devon and the Jurassic CoastWalking through the footpaths of Yarcombe and Marsh and the Blackdown Hills and coming to the day’s end – to have a local beer and home made food cooked fresh before going up the stairs to the Drake Bedroom – or the Friars SnugAll this in the village where the famous Drake’s Drum, which legend tells is heard whenever the country is in peril, until recently.reside

BENEFITS OF BEING A SUPPORTERWe have only had a few short weeks to get the campaign up and running. This is a mighty endeavour for a small community and we have only a short time to make our offer. However we are determined to preserve the Inn and we ask for your help.

We are working to complete our business plan and financial model, which will most likely include a share offer. We are also considering giving a founders share to everone who supported us in the campaign.

If you are interested in making an investment in our pub , please revisit the site soon when all the details will be posted. Or email savetheyarcombeinn@gmail.com and we will make sure we send you all the information to make your decision or the link to the updated crowd-funding site.

Tenants of the Yarcombe Estate paying their rent on Lady Day outside the Yarcombe Inn in the 1930s

We have so much to do and so little time. Please help us, get involved or make any suggestions.